Masters match schedule, BBC coverage times, results & prize money
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Shaun Murphy got the defence of his Masters title under way on Sunday, 11 January at London's Alexandra Palace - but was dumped out on day one.
The Englishman, who beat Kyren Wilson 10-7 in last year's final, was bidding to win the tournament for a third time, having also won the tournament in 2015.
He fell to exciting young Chinese player Wu Yize, though, and fellow former winner Mark Selby also lost later in the day.
Eight-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan pulled out of the tournament because of medical reasons and was replaced by Chris Wakelin, who was defeated by Neil Robertson.
The Masters, a non-ranking event for the world's top 16 players, is the second Triple Crown competition of the season.
The UK Championship, which was won by Selby in December, and the World Championship, which starts in April, are the other two Triple Crown tournaments.
This year's Masters featured five Chinese players for the first time in the tournament's 51-year history.
Keep reading to find out the match schedule, BBC TV coverage details, prize money, former champions and maximum breaks at the Masters.
- Every first round Masters tie finishes 6-2 at odds of 220,000-1
- O'Sullivan withdraws from Masters for medical reasons
Who are the favourites?
As defending champion, world number seven Murphy began as top seed for the 52nd Masters tournament.
China's Zhao Xintong, who started with a win against 16th seed Gary Wilson on Monday, was promoted to second seed from a ranking of ninth because of his status as world champion.
However, he was beaten 6-5 in a decider by two-time Masters champion John Higgins in the last eight.
World number one Judd Trump, champion in 2019 and 2023, is the third seed. The Englishman will be keen to get 2026 off to a flying start after failing to win a title last year.
He advanced past 2011 champion Ding Junhui and Mark Allen and will now take on John Higgins in the semi-finals on Saturday.
Kyren Wilson, last year's runner-up, is seeded fourth. The 2024 world champion struggled at the UK Championship, saying he was close to having a "mental breakdown" during a 6-4 defeat by Elliot Slessor.
But he looked sharp on Tuesday when beating Si Jiahui and then came through a classic against two-time winner Neil Robertson to reach the last four.
Robertson leads the one-year ranking list thanks to notable wins at the lucrative Saudi Masters and the World Grand Prix.
Mark Williams, one part of snooker's famous 'Class of 92' alongside, Higgins and O'Sullivan lost in round one to Northern Ireland's Allen.
Selby looked back to his formidable best at the UK Championship but fell to Xiao Guodong on Sunday to end his 2026 Masters hopes.
- Wilson and wife Sophie setting up family support network
- Why snooker's golden generation are still shining at 50
- What's behind snooker's 147 boom?
How to follow live on the BBC
BBC Sport has comprehensive live coverage of every shot across BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.
You can also watch the live streams and follow text updates on the BBC Sport website and app.
Match schedule and BBC coverage
All times GMT. Schedules and coverage times are subject to late changes.
Semi-finals
Saturday 17 January
Best of 11 frames
13:00 - Judd Trump v John Higgins
19:00 - Kyren Wilson v Wu Yize
Live coverage
13:00-16:30 - BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app
16:30-17:30 - BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app
19:00-22:00 - BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app
Final
Sunday 18 January
Best of 19 frames
13:00-17:15 - BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app
19:00-22:00 - BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app
Results
First Round
Shaun Murphy 2-6 Wu Yize
Mark Selby 2-6 Xiao Guodong
Mark Williams 2-6 Mark Allen
Zhao Xintong 6-2 Gary Wilson
Kyren Wilson 6-2 Si Jiahui
John Higgins 6-2 Barry Hawkins
Judd Trump 6-2 Ding Junhui
Neil Robertson 6-2 Chris Wakelin
Quarter-finals
John Higgins 6-5 Zhao Xintong
Judd Trump 6-2 Mark Allen
Wu Yize 6-0 Xiao Guodong
Kyren Wilson 6-5 Neil Robertson
Masters prize money
Winner: £350,000
Runner-up: £140,000
Semi-finals: £75,000
Quarter-finals: £40,000
Last 16: £25,000
High break: £15,000
Masters champions
Ronnie O'Sullivan has won the tournament the most times and is also the youngest and the oldest Masters champion.
The Englishman won the Masters for the first time in 1995 aged 19 and his eighth in 2024 aged 48.
Stephen Hendry lifted the trophy six times while Steve Davis, Paul Hunter, Mark Selby and Cliff Thorburn have all won it three times.
Mark Williams, John Higgins, Neil Robertson, Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy and Alex Higgins have all won the title twice.
The tournament trophy was renamed the Paul Hunter Trophy in 2017 as a tribute to the three-time Masters champion, who died aged 27 in 2006.
Last 10 Masters finals
2025: Shaun Murphy beat Kyren Wilson 10-7
2024: Ronnie O'Sullivan beat Ali Carter 10-7
2023: Judd Trump beat Mark Williams 10-8
2022: Neil Robertson beat Barry Hawkins 10-4
2021: Yan Bingtao beat John Higgins 10-8
2020: Stuart Bingham beat Ali Carter 10-8
2019: Judd Trump beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-4
2018: Mark Allen beat Kyren Wilson 10-7
2017: Ronnie O'Sullivan beat Joe Perry 10-7
2016: Ronnie O'Sullivan beat Barry Hawkins 10-1
Maximum breaks at the Masters
Shaun Murphy made the sixth maximum at the Masters with a 147 break in his semi-final victory over Mark Allen last year.
Kirk Stevens recorded the first in 1984, while Ding Junhui (twice), Marco Fu and Allen have also potted 147s.
